Hadith Explanation

Grave's Call

Once when he was seated near a grave, the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Every grave proclaims in the most horrific voice, ‘O progeny of Adam! Have you forgotten me? I am the house of loneliness. I am a strange land of wilderness! I am a hole of mites and worms. I am a place of hardship and trial, save those fortunate ones for whom Allah makes me commodious and wide. I am for all other human beings a tortuous place.’” In addition, the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The grave is either one of the pits of Hell or a small flower garden out of the gardens of Paradise.” [Tabarani]

Given that a less rewarded person’s property in Jannah will be much more than all of the land on earth, a small flower garden might be as big as a small country such as Switzerland. This could be your grave. Alternatively, it could be one of the trenches from Hell filled with scorpions, snakes and fire. May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) save us all from a bad end.

Take heed from the sight of the grave and concentrate your thoughts and imaginative powers on meditating life after death.